Class Styles

Our studio caters to a wide variety of students by offering different types of classes and levels. We offer Yoga, Pilates Mat, Tai Chi, and Fitness classes. Click on the Class Styles Navigation and select the name of a class style to learn more about what we currently offer.

Good classes for Beginning Students include: Yoga Basics, Gentle Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Yoga Mix, Restorative Yoga, Gentle & Restorative Yoga, Candlelight Yoga, and Candlelight Yin with Restoratives. *Coming in Fall 2014: We will be offering a recurring three-week Introduction to Yoga series. Click here to learn more; it’s the perfect way to get started on a lifelong practice.

Please email (info@sellwoodyoga.com) or call us if you have questions about which classes to try and why.

Align Fit Express

In this 45-minute class, you will be crushing cardio bursts and banging out body weight exercises at such a fierce rate, you may forget that you haven’t eaten lunch yet. Then you’ll have 15 mins left to enjoy that healthy meal you’ll desperately want afterwards.

Alignment Flow

Go deeper into your practice with a focus on alignment and body positioning. Alignment Flow will blend vinyasa and hatha styles, and also incorporate pranayama, meditation, and philosophy.

Candlelight Yin with Restoratives

Need to relax, de-stress or make time for yourself? Candlelight Yin Yoga with Restoratives is a deep, meditative and often profound practice. Infused in the longer, more passive holds is a meditative awareness of breath, mindfulness and presence. This more quiet and still practice helps to tap into intuition and deep listening.

The Yin style involves holding and exploring poses for longer periods of time in order to let go of tensions stored in the body and to calm the nervous system. . Practicing this way helps to target deeper connective tissues especially around the hips, pelvis and lower spine.

Restorative poses will be included or when necessary can be substituted for some of the Yin poses. The more restorative aspects will aid in creating calmness, deep relaxation and therapeutic support.

The class is suitable for most practitioners regardless of age, experience or familiarity with Yin or Restorative yoga. Awareness, openings and insight become skillful tools in order to help overcome obstacles and challenges in life, increase joint mobility, heal injuries and provide necessary self-care.

Our Candlelight Yoga classes might also include some time using foam rollers, and massage balls to further and expand the opportunities for therapeutic release, rejuvenation, and healing.

By the end of your practice you will feel recharged, replenished, and relaxed.

Candlelight Yoga is suitable for and beneficial to all levels of practitioners.

FIT: Functional Interval Training (Strength Conditioning)

Unlike lifting a certain amount of weight in an idealized posture as with traditional weight lifting, FIT: Functional Interval Training will help your body to handle real life situations.

You will not only become stronger and more tone, as with traditional weight training, but will also get the added benefit of control and balance. FIT: Functional Interval Training teaches the muscles to work together rather than independently; using your core to hold your body, not relying on a machine to do it for you. This means you can feel good while preventing many everyday injuries that can arise from independent muscle training.

With interval training you will move along from station to station with each exercise lasting about a minute. Interval training keeps your heart rate up which translates to a boosted metabolism and a good overall workout.

Gentle and Restorative Yoga

Soothe your stress with this healing, calming and rejuvenating class. The first half of our practice will focus on slow movement, stretching and strengthening postures while the second half will be completely supported, quiet and restorative. In all parts of this meditative practice, we will connect mindfully to the breath, body and spirit.

Yogis of all ages, sizes and levels are welcome to attend, as are those with injuries and therapeutic needs. Pregnant women in all stages of pregnancy are encouraged to participate, as are new mothers (minimum 4 weeks postpartum) and those trying to become pregnant. Everyone will be given individualized, healing modifications as needed.

Hatha Yoga

Drawing on principles of Iyengar (alignment-based), Vinyasa (flow) and classical Hatha yoga, Hatha classes move through a variety of postures, themes and focuses. The content of the classes will be chosen to suit those present and energy of the group, working toward a balanced body and mind: aware, powerful, and present. The pace may be slower than that of a Vinyasa Flow class, which makes Hatha classes valuable for both beginners and experienced practitioners; providing time and attention to the foundation, alignment and subtleties of each posture. Students are guided out of their trouble spots so they can express each pose in a way that suits and addresses their individual needs. The class will include asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation in order to address health and well being on all levels.

Kid’s Yoga

Designed and suitable for kids ages 5-9 years old.

Through traditional & creative yoga poses, storytelling, singing, dancing, games and relaxation your child will experience the joys of yoga in a safe environment. Not only is this class fun-filled, it is a healthy afternoon activity that will help increase your child’s concentration, attention span, body awareness and coordination.

Your child will learn lessons in self-acceptance, interpersonal skills, and positive thinking giving your kids indispensable tools for the rest of their lives.

Pilates

Mat work is the core of Pilates training. The precise exercises developed by Joseph H. Pilates in the 1920’s are tried and true in building core strength, increasing flexibility & range of motion, improving coordination, control of movement, alignment, and deep full breathing. With practice and intention, building strong abdominal and postural muscles – also known as the powerhouse – is invaluable in the support of the skeletal system. Pilates exercises focus on using the breath to channel core energy into the center of the body and out to the limbs. (Each Pilates exercise can be modified to suit most people, of any age or fitness level. At the same time, Pilates is widely recommended by doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors for older people and those undergoing physical rehabilitation. If this is the case, however, please let the studio and your instructor know so that we can help direct or accommodate your concerns safely and effectively.)

Restorative Yoga

This is a great all around class for those looking to deeply relax, unwind and melt away stress. Calming breathing exercises and a series of restful postures, using bolsters and and other props, will help to fully support the body and refresh the mind. Newer students will learn gentle approaches to poses and experienced students and athletes will benefit by adding restoratives to their practice and/or training program.

Strong Vinyasa

A more challenging and faster paced Vinyasa Flow practice aimed at developing strength and stability, endurance and focus, as well as balance and mobility. Familiarity of Sun Salutations (A and B series) is recommended.

Tai Chi

Tai chi is an art from that cultivates inner and outer strength through movement. You can develop concentration, performance enhancement, body awareness, self-healing, emotional calming, and self-defense.

Moving postures and meditative techniques are used to sink you into a focused state, leading to an increase of your life energy. Gradually, the harmonizing within yourself transcends your practice and makes its way into all aspects of life.

Vinyasa Flow

An evolving and creative form of yoga, Vinyasa Flow classes integrate breath and movement, awareness and alignment. Vinyasa is a logical arrangement and placement of asana (postures) where the intelligence is guided from within. Each class is unique, influenced primarily from hatha yoga traditions as well as other healing and expressive arts.

Vinyasa Flow with Core Strengthening

Core strength is a yoga buzz phrase, but what does it really mean? In this class, we will use core awareness, breath work and asana, to find greater stability, strength and balance in a yoga practice. This class is open to all with relatively healthy backs and familiarity with yoga.

Yoga Basics

This is a great class for beginning and intermediate students as well as those looking to further their understanding of the foundations and subtleties of yoga poses and breathing techniques. Yoga Basics focuses on alignment, adapting poses, working with breath and increasing flexibility, strength and balance. Assistance by way of props may be utilized to allow greater access, opening and awareness throughout the body, and to allow students of various levels to practice safely and comfortably.

Self exploration occurs through discovery and release of physical tension, habitual patterns and psychological resistance. As individual practice continues, a student’s ability to relax and concentrate improves and self understanding is enhanced. Different techniques and instructions will be explained in order to adapt poses to fit the needs and experience levels of each student.

Yoga Basics (Mixed Levels)

Combining and using techniques, tips, and formats from a variety of yoga styles the “Yoga Basics (Mixed Levels)” classes are designed to be adaptable to a wide range of students from beginners to more seasoned practitioners.

These classes are slower moving and more detail oriented then the Vinyasa Flow classes. Emphasis is on alignment with skillful instruction as well as time for exploration to see and feel how yoga poses differ by design, body type and approach.

Most “Yoga Basics (Mixed Levels)” classes revolve around a particular theme (making for a mini-workshop style class) or are set up to look at a few specific poses. Each class involves time for relaxation, breath awareness, and stress reduction.

Different techniques and instructions will be explained in order to adapt poses to fit the needs and experience levels of the class. Assistance by way of props, hands on adjustment and demonstration is often included to help students of various levels practice safely and comfortably.

Yoga for Athletes

*Improve balance and flexibility

*Build muscular strength and lung capacity

*Increase mental alertness and focus

*Prevent injuries

*Enjoy deep relaxation

A well balanced yoga practice can address many needs: breath awareness to stay centered and present, challenging poses to build strength and balance, longer more passive holds to open tight or sore muscle groups, and deep relaxation for integration and restoration. Many athletes practice yoga on their rest days or incorporate sessions before or after longer workouts. Suitable for all levels.

Gift Certificates

You can easily purchase a Gift Certificate online. Options include customizing the amount, including a personal message, selecting from a variety of images and either emailing the gift directly to the recipient or arranging for other delivery methods through the studio.